Learning for idiots ^^;

[ShiningDragon]

Could someone teach me how to make a theme? I can't understand the wiki-entries, they're not for beginner!

I need to know the basic, the meaning for the commands and variables. Just how to built up the main menu; if i understand this, i can work further alone.

Perhaps someone has time for this REAL HARD WORK (because i am untalented) *g*

[Fatman_do]

Could someone teach me how to make a theme? I can't understand the wiki-entries, they're not for beginner!

I need to know the basic, the meaning for the commands and variables. Just how to built up the main menu; if i understand this, i can work further alone.

Perhaps someone has time for this REAL HARD WORK (because i am untalented) *g*

Find a theme *close* to what you want to make and start from there. Once you have that, I can point you in the right direction. It is only one .xml file to edit.

SkinEdit does have some limitations for complete skin design, but it is a great tool for the majority of the layout tweaking that I do.

I can walk you through it. Once you learn how, maybe you will make more.

We can go through this together and I will add this experience to the wiki for the walkthrough section that is incomplete.

[ShiningDragon]

Exact THIS is NOT, what i want. I want to learn building such an .xml from the beginning.

I tried often times to modify the .xml's and watch for changes on Screen. But this method isn't really good. I wann know, when to place which command. With which commands i can create something useful. To integrate bitmaps for background and buttons...

Stuff like this.

Yesterday i builded for a mainmenu background screen and would love to give it life...

[Fatman_do]

Exact THIS is NOT, what i want. I want to learn building such an .xml from the beginning.

I tried often times to modify the .xml's and watch for changes on Screen. But this method isn't really good. I wann know, when to place which command. With which commands i can create something useful. To integrate bitmaps for background and buttons...

Stuff like this.

Yesterday i builded for a mainmenu background screen and would love to give it life...

That is what I was going to offer.

I thought this was the best way to teach skinning is to look at a skin file close to the design you want and explain to you what each part does. Where to add new things if you wish, ect.

I could go through the BaseSkin default and explain things, but I thought it would be best to work with something that you want? I thought this is what you meant by your first post.

If you want, post your mainmenu skin.xml and baseskin.xml and I can mark it up for you.

Sorry if it seemed like I was going to spin you around five times and point you in a direction and let you run by yourself. That was not my intention.

[ShiningDragon]

No, sorry ^^ I have to thank you for your kind offer. Please don't forget, that english isn't my native language.
My english is very limited, so some sentences or words aren't right.

Of course i would lovely learn by you, but i think that the problem is: I don't understand anything with the .xml's
This is the big problem; if i had a little Basics, so it were good if you teach me with some ready .xml's

I can't post .xml's, because i am not able to do some ^^;

[Fatman_do]

No, sorry ^^ I have to thank you for your kind offer. Please don't forget, that english isn't my native language.
My english is very limited, so some sentences or words aren't right.

Of course i would lovely learn by you, but i think that the problem is: I don't understand anything with the .xml's
This is the big problem; if i had a little Basics, so it were good if you teach me with some ready .xml's

I can't post .xml's, because i am not able to do some ^^;

I know language issues can be difficult. I am willing to work through them.

Maybe I should shorten my words as well to help you, or can you read English better than write it?

I just put Yoda's voice to your posts and it makes perfect sense. (joke)

What theme were you looking at? I will download it and break it down for you.

[ShiningDragon]

Your offer is very kind, thank you =) My reading is a little bit better, than my written words.

The idea with Yoda's Voice seems to be a good idea..., but were Patrick Stewart possible too? *smile* ^^;

Ok, as for starting learning: How about sub's default Blueskin? I think for the basics this were the best.

Thanks to you, again =)

PS: I am planning to built up an 1280 x 720 Theme, because that's the native Resolution of my LCD.



EDIT:
What about using colours like these?

[Fatman_do]

Ok, the BaseSkin basic skin it is then as a start.

Colors are fine, they can change easier than anything else.

[ShiningDragon]

Ok, the BaseSkin basic skin it is then as a start.

Ok, how we'll start the project "Learning for ShiningIdiots" ? :p

Colors are fine, they can change easier than anything else.

Yepp

[Fatman_do]

Ok let me make some assumptions on they way you want it to look.

The top green bar is on all screens.
The left dark gray bar is actually the background color in all screens.
The bottom green bar is on the main menu only.
The blue window (with gray border?) is the "Listview.png" for info boxes.

Your buttons will be whatever your idea there is. (Single picture, button with task image, no button, ect.) I will need to know this as well.

All plugins will only be 720x480 unless all plugins are reskinned (not all may support 16:9)

It is more difficult to skin these than the main menu. Not all plugins are skinner friendly.

Along the way, if you want to post a mock-up image of what you are looking for, that will help. It can be a very crude sketch. Ideas are important now versus actual images.